This walk is approx. 7 miles or 11 km. Before starting out, please prepare yourself
siutable with good shoes or boots as part of the walk could be very wet or muddy,
depending on the weather.
 Starting
at the car park at Clonbur Church, enter the woods at Burk´s garage, at the barrier.
Continuing on the path or gravel road, you will cross a causeway with water on each
side. This is part of Lough Mask. The swamp area hosts a number of wild birds including
Mute Swans, Mallard, Wigeon, Teal and Coote.
Continue along the avenue through the Pines, Larches, Spruce, Oak and Ash to a junction.
This area was a small sawmill where sawn for fencing. At this point turn right.
Approx. 100m after the junction you will see Ballykine Castle, in ruins and secluded
in the trees to your left. The castle once was the seat of Kyne Clan but was taken
from them by the British, under Fitton, in 1571.
As you continue along the avenue through the Beeches you come to a junction approx.
40m from the main Clonbur-Cong road. At this point, veer to your right and continue
on under two viaducts that were built by the Guinness family in 1908. Follow the
avenue for approx. 400m and veer left at the next junction for approx. 1km, until
you find an iron gate.
At this point cross the public road and continue your walk through the gate on the
opposite site. Do not take the right turn inside the gate but continue straight
down the grassy path until you come to the Pigeon Hole Cave. Here 61 steps take
you to the bottom of the cave. The underground river you see is actually the water
of Lough Mask rushing toward Lough Corrib.
As you continue through tue rugged limestone with its small caves and holes you
will pass underneath the main Cong-Cornamona road. This route will take you along
the river walk (Cong river). When you reach a very attractive bridge over the river,
cross it. At the other end of the bridge is the Monk´s Fishing House, a little limestone
house constructed over part of the river so that the water flows underneath the
house.
In olden days the monks from the nearby abbey fished the river from the little house.
Legend has it that the monks had a clever plan for catching the trout and salmon
by fixing a net in the river below and connection the net to a line attached to
a bell in the abbey kitchen. When a fish was netted the bell rang ti inform Brother
Cook that he might include fresh fish on the menu for the day.
On leaving the Monk´s Fishing House you cross over a smaller bridge and enter the
grounds of Cong Historic Abbey...
You have to cross the two bridges once more and turn left inside the Gothic doorway
at the end of the bridges. As you continue along the river path you will enter the
Ashford Castle grounds and may be asked to pay an admission fee.
Having completed your financial arrangements with the keeper, you can make your
way to the Castle´s splendid grounds and admire the beautiful gardens and winderful
views of Lough Corrib.
From the Castle and gardens proceed along the terraced walk with its colourful shrubs
on both sides. At the end of this walk turn left until you meet an attractive schoolhouse
now occupied by the Costello family, an old Irish family who worked on the Guinness
estate in days of yore. From the schoolhouse a left turn will take you into the
old estate farmyard. It was here that many scenes of the film "The Quiet Man" were
shot. Mrs. Farragher, who lives there, may have a few words with you.
Proceed from this point to the "Broad Avenue" where you will turn right to a gateway
that divides Ashford Castle property from Forestry (Coillte) lands. Proceed through
the gate and along the shores of Lough Corrib to your left until you reach "The
Chalet".
The timber chalet was built by Lord Ardilaun for his wife Olive. It was here that
Lady Ardilaun spent many hours reading and writing. Her meals would be brought from
Ashford Castle by horse and trap.
President Reagan visited this area in 1985. "Ardnageeha", as the area is known locally,
has some pleasant walks and a swimming area.
From the carpark proceed down the road and over the iron grid (Australian gate),
turn left and proceed until you reach the main Cong.Cornamona road. Cross the road
and enter the forest again at the green iron railing. From here you walk along the
avenue until you reach the point at which you took a left turn earlier. Do not turn
right at this point but proceed along the path until you reach the second viaduct.
Near the viaduct you will find a stile or exit in the wall to your left which will
take you back to the main road. Turn left and you are on your way back to Clonbar
and your car. |